Survivors have until Saturday to visit 4 disaster recovery centers in New York

The State of New York and the Federal Emergency Management Agency closely monitor visitor traffic at all New York recovery centers. Traffic at the four centers has slowed, indicating the information needs of survivors in those areas have mostly been met. So far, there have been more than 13,000 visits to the four centers combined.

Survivors who need help may still visit any of the other centers that remain open throughout New York, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Also, all recovery centers will suspend service Monday, Feb. 18, 2013, in observance of Presidents’ Day. The centers will reopen at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19.

The four centers that are discontinuing service Feb. 16 are located at:

• American Legion
209 Cross Bay Blvd.
Broad Channel, NY, 11693

• Jewish Community Center
YM-YWHA
3300 Coney Island Ave.
Brooklyn, NY, 11235

• Sheepshead Bay Club
3076 Emmons Ave.
Brooklyn, NY, 11235

• Gerristen Beach Volunteer Fire Department Training Hall
43 Seba Ave.
Brooklyn, NY, 11229

To find the nearest center, the following options are available: Text DRC and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA), and a text message will be sent back with the address. Also, the Disaster Recovery Center locator is available online at www.FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers.

Individuals also can find a recovery center – and register for FEMA help – online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet by going to m.fema.gov or by downloading the FEMA app.

Survivors who have questions or want to register with FEMA can also call 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). People who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) should call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. EST, seven days a week until further notice.

Hurricane Sandy survivors in New York have until Feb. 27, 2013, to register for federal disaster assistance, which can include money for rent, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585. FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.